People

The Auckland Museum Institute Council 

Some members want to become more involved in the Museum and volunteer to serve on the Institute Council. Institute Councillors are elected by members and serve a two year term for a maximum of three terms, with new appointments announced each November at the AGM.  The Council has a number of important responsibilities:

• The Council oversees the operation of the Friends of the Auckland Museum and the Institute's programme of events.
• Council members provide a link to the Royal Society of New Zealand, as a result of the Institute's role as the society's Auckland Branch or Regional Constituent Organisation (RCO).
• And Councillors have a statutory role to appoint four of the ten members of the Auckland Museum Trust Board.

If you would like to know more about what's involved in serving on the Auckland Museum Institute Council, please contact the Institute Manager, Alison Barnett ph: 302 6249.

Current Institute Council Members - Until November 2009:

Rae Nield - Council President, Finance Committee Rae has Masters degrees in Science and Jurisprudence as well as a postgraduate diploma in librarianship. After a business career ranging from information services to sales, marketing and general management roles, she studied law and has since worked as a commercial lawyer. Rae has her own practice specialising in the law applying to the distribution and marketing of goods and services. She works with traders throughout the supply chain. Since 1985, Rae has been a regular submitter to Parliamentary Select Committees on law changes which affect businesses and consumers.

Roger McElroy - Council Vice-President, Programme Committee Roger holds qualifications in mathematics and in education. He has a marketing background in multinational commerce in the chemical industry, and in secondary school teaching of mathematics and physics. He is trained in public and private sector management, and served as General Manager of the Otago Education Board and as Manager National Operations for the Ministry of Education. More recently he has been involved in long term strategic planning for the siting and development of new primary and secondary schools to meet expected population growth in the wider Auckland area. He has a long-held interest in the work of local and national museums and their educational and research role relevant to their communities.

Dr Anthony Bellve - Chair Programme Committee Dr Anthony Bellve is currently Chairman of Energy Pacifica, a new company focused on renewable energy generation devices. He is also a Board Member of AWATEA, the Aotearoa Wave and Tidal Energy Association which promotes the uptake of marine energy in New Zealand. Anthony’s academic career in the United States involved stem cell research and he held posts of Professor at Columbia University and Associate Professor at Harvard University. On retirement Anthony returned to New Zealand where his interest in education, heritage and the environment have led him to take on the responsibility of Chair of the Institute’s Programme Committee and Auckland Branch Representative of the Royal Society of New Zealand.

James Frater - Finance Committee Jim, BSc BCom (Auckland), CA, is a semi-retired Chartered Accountant whose work experience in the last 30 years has been in the accounting/company secretarial departments of Stock Exchange-listed public companies. His professional career has given him a good knowledge of governance matters and he also has a strong interest in natural history and conservation issues, with a family property in Northland being partially covenanted with the Queen Elizabeth 2 National Trust. He is active in outdoor activities including boating, tramping and skiing and has been a member of the Institute for over 30 years. He is also involved in his local community including the Anglican Church.

Dr Jennifer Hand - Chair Membership Committee Jennifer is a sociologist who has published widely on health and social issues, most notably in the transformation of public space by marginalized people in New York City, domestic violence, and gambling in Pacific communities. Currently, she teaches at the School of Population Health, University of Auckland, has a consultancy business providing advice, evaluation, urban design and strategic planning services to government and local authorities and offers advice, planting and weeding skills to neighbourhood gardening and food groups.

Eric Keys - Finance Committee Eric was educated at Auckland University and graduated with a B.A and A.C.I.S. He is also a Justice of the Peace. Eric has a background in management and accounting in both commercial and not-for-profit organizations, having worked for Shell Oil N.Z.Ltd, CSR Ltd and the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, where he was CEO for 23 years. In that time he was also Secretary of the World Real Estate Federation, Asia Pacific Region. He is a member of Rotary, Northern Regional Chairman and National Board member of the J.R.McKenzie Trust and a board member of several charitable trusts in Auckland

Dr Roger Lins - Programme Committee Dr Roger Lins - Programme Committee Roger has a background in scientific research and a strong interest in science communication and outreach. In 2006 he established and chaired a successful science café in Palmerston North, with support from the Manatawu branch of the RSNZ, Te Manawa, and Massey University. In mid-2007 he moved to Auckland to take up an academic writing position at the Liggins Institute, where he is now Chief Operating Officer for the National Research Centre for Growth and Development. He is the popular facilitator of the Institute's Cafe Scientitique.

Allan Mutch - Membership Committee Allan has had an extensive career in the telecommunication industry. His experience ranged from Technician to Manager, including training and project management. He is currently using his skills in security and building management as the High Court Custodian. Allan’s main hobby involves guiding and informing visitors at Auckland Museum, as a week-end volunteer.

Janet Xuccoa - Membership Committee Janet Xuccoa, has Law and Commerce degrees and is a partner in her firm, Gilligan Rowe + Associates. Part of her responsibility is to co-ordinate, present and deliver 80 key note sessions per year. She is also a Professional Trustee of approximately 3000 trusts. Her strengths are accounting, strategic planning, and marketing/sponsorship.

Dr Jessie Costa - Programme Committee Jessie is not an elected Council member but has been co-opted onto the Programme Committee to help co-ordinate the Institute's Cafe Scientifique/Humanities programme. She is a research fellow in the Department of Medicine at the University of Auckland. Her basic science research has focused on the impact of adipose-related hormones on lipid and sugar metabolism as well as bone development. She is also interested in the effects of dietary content on bone cell function. Jessie has a keen interest in improving communication of scientific subjects to the public, and strengthening links between the scientific and non-scientific communities.

Alison Barnett - Institute Manager Alison is the Institute Manager. She has a background in visual arts, marketing and communications. Previous roles have included software channel management, art gallery work and managing exhibitions and events.

Marguerite Durling (photo pending) Marguerite Durling is the Assitant General Manager of Diabetes NZ and has held previous positions in other organisations as Company Director, Board Member and General Manager. She is also a Museum volunteer and is commtted to seeing the Museum prosper. Marguerite is a member of the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand; New Zealand Institute of Management and the Chamber of Commerce. In addition to these she is also involved in events management, media, marketing and website content for Diabetes NZ.

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Immediate Past Council President, Mike Rowe, speaking to Institute members at an exhibition opening.